Making matters worse, the Bills also announced that second-year wide receiver Kevin Elliott suffered a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.

The news on Manuel came less than 24 hours after he clearly outplayed Kolb in the Bills' 20-16 preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. Manuel completed 10 of 12 passes for 92 yards and one touchdown, looking comfortable along the way.

The first-round draft pick calmly guided Buffalo's fast-paced offense and showed an ability to get rid of the ball quickly while making smart decisions. Kolb, meanwhile, averaged just over 5 yards per throw and suffered an interception on a tipped pass. Boos rained down inside Ralph Wilson Stadium as Kolb struggled to move the team.

One day later, Buffalo is mired in a tricky situation.

The Bills clearly were hoping to start Manuel in Week 1. That now will require a quick recovery and a leap of faith.